Dressed to "The Nines"

My Chanel-inspired black/white look for the 2nd Annual The Nines Fashion Show last night. Such a great time! They are always on trend with looks for the summer. Some of my favorites were a blue chevron maxi dress and a scalloped crop top.

Check out the rest of the pictures at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Style-by-Kari/212972702130423

When all you want is the sun...

It has been raining for the past 8 days, I swear, with a 30 minute break yesterday for me (and my boys) to play outside. It seems like mother nature is laughing in our face. 'Oh, you're coming out to play because you've been cooped up for days? Just kidding, I'm not done raining.' 

This is really putting a damper on my girly cute spring/summer wardrobe. My bright colors are rarely seeing the outside of my closet and my dark, winter clothes are getting way more use than they are supposed to. 

Here are my tips to avoid a winter-like spring funk:

1. Throw on your Wellies water boots and go puddle jumping! Who cares? It's just water, be a kid.
 

2. Make a Target run for a cute umbrella and take a short walk around the block. How cute and fun is this?
http://www.target.com/p/totes-polka-dot-print-stick-umbrella-green/-/A-17138478#prodSlot=medium_1_40&term=umbrella 

3. And when you just can't leave your house because the wind and storm is too much, there's always online shopping!

In 24 hours

Every minute is precious. At night before bed I like to relive my day and think about how I can make tomorrow better.
Wednesday, April 22, 2015. 4:30 AM: The alarm goes off for the first of 3 snoozes. Drowsy walk to the living room and begin pumping. Shower and do my 15 minute beauty routine...
5:20 AM: Toner, brush teeth, decide how to wear my hair for the day (side braid, down and curly, or high bun - if I'm running late, pick whichever is faster). Today, high bun. Then; concealer, foundation, blush, eye shadow, mascara and eye brow pencil. 

                      

5:35 AM: Second guess every outfit I just planned in the shower and finally settle on black denim, black/white stripe blouse and black leather jacket. Throw on my silver jewelry (watch, rings and black pearls), grab my black Nine West pumps, spritz on some Chanel, quick kiss to the hubs (who is still sleeping - remind me to complain later how I wake up too early) and run to the car.
6:00 AM: Arrive at work.

Today is the 14th Annual NDSU FABO fashion show. I can remember being there for the first and the second, so today's show is definitely a don't miss.
11:00 AM: Meet my friend and drive to campus. Oh how I've missed this campus. I'm reminded of all the memories; good and bad and how my life has turned out. Before the show starts, we grab a coffee and warm up, because like the memories I can't forget, somehow I forgot how freezing you get walking around.
12:00 PM: Minutes before the show starts I look around and see my old teachers and wonder if they remember me.
12:30 PM: The show is over and I regret not finishing school and not attending the past 12 shows through the years. It was such a great show! Kittsona, Proper & Prim and Francesa's, to name a few.

1:00 PM: Get back home. While I didn't graduate from college, I wouldn't change where I am now for anything in the world.
4:30 PM: Me and the hubs go to Barnes and walk around. The clearance section has a great history of fashion book that I flip through. It shows vintage pieces and old Victorian style corsets and dresses.
7:30 PM: Finally get home after grocery shopping and get ready for bed and put the boys to bed.
8:45 PM: My eyes finally close for the day and I think, it was a good day. I will do it all over again tomorrow.

I could always use another fashion show, but I have to wait til May 30th in DL at The Nines.

Craving the beach?

When I signed up for Birchbox, I was excited to get a present once a month of beauty products for only $10.00. But let's be honest, I doubt I'm going to buy these products through Birchbox in a full size, they are a little expensive. One of the samples I received in my first Birchbox was the PARLOR by Jeff Chastain Moisturizing Sea Salt Spray. I never really used it until a few days ago. I absolutely love the way this product makes my hair feel which made me search for a more reasonable priced sea salt spray. This one sold through Birchbox is $24.00 for 4.9 fl oz. I found this John Frieda Beach Blonde Seas Waves Salt Spray for $9.99 for 5 fl oz. A deal? I think so! So my Birchbox may not be the best priced, but it can help me look for a new product to try and find somewhere else at a price that is easier on my pocketbook. 

I would highly recommend a sea salt spray if you want a little body and texture to your hair. This is one of my favorite styling products for spring without being to heavy and weighing your hair down.  Give it a try!

A week of outfits.

As a mom I don't have much time to myself. So when my 30 minute pump break happens at work I consider it my few moments of silence in my day. This is when I take advantage of the full length mirror behind the door to capture my outfit. Here are a few compiled together. I chose not to remember the weekends when I wear a hoodie, jeans and sneakers. Hard to believe?

I'm a taurus, so I should right?

The new Vogue is filled with new fashion and I even got a Spring catalog of BCBG. But there was one page that stuck out to me with a trend that I might consider. The non-pierced septum ring. If I didn't see a picture with the piercing I would've called it the booger piercing, or between your nose. Granted, there are some celebrities that do rock these; Lady Gaga, supermodel Eva Marcille and Scarlett Johannson. I must admit that Elisabeth Tnt who writes for Vogue looks pretty good with one too. I think the thing with this trend is that you have to possess that rocker chic vibe, and I do not. I would much prefer a floral skirt and heels over torn up jeans and dark colors. But just wait!

After Googling some shopping sites and images, I found that there are non piercing septum rings out there for the girly girl in you, with bling! I don't think I'll jump on this trend bandwagon right now, but I'm not completely opposed to it. I'll keep searching some jewelry sites and if I can find a decent one cheap enough to test it out, I will add it to my shopping cart. I just hope it looks like a septum ring and not a huge booger hanging out of my nose. After all, I am a taurus, I should act more like it.

Feel like being daring and following this trend? Check out these celebrities who have!

Elisabeth Tnt, Scarlett Johannson, Eva Marcille, Lady Gaga, Jordin Sparks.

Blow-Out? Throw out?

I just got my Birchbox sample last Friday and was pretty happy with what it included. I got an awesome new lip color in a fun red that I've been meaning to try. Now I actually have it and I don't have an excuse. I kinda love it too. I also got this amika Bombshell Blowout Spray as a sample bottle. I'm thisclose to giving it away to someone. Because I wake up at 4:30 AM and shower at 5:00 AM, I cannot use my blowdryer with 2 little kids and a husband sleeping. I doubt I will ever get to use this because; 1. They don't make silent blowdryers and 2. Who has time to blow dry their hair?! Or is that just me? 

My son has some longer hair, maybe we can try it out on him? Then at least I can review it to get my free 10 points. Birchbox should consider your morning regimen when signing up. Do you have 30 minutes in the morning to yourself? Can you be as loud as you want? No? Then this isn't for you.